Sunday, February 03, 2008

Physicality was not something that was missing in Italy's performance against Ireland in the opening match the Six Nations. The tackles came on thick and fast from the Italian back-row from the likes Bergamasco and Parisse especially.

Even Irish captain Brian O'Driscoll begins to feel the intensity and needs a breather after getting drilled by open-side Bergamasco. Geordan Murphy also gets a taste of the action when he and a rampaging Bergamasco collide in the second half.

Despite the physicality though, both sides lacked a little bit of direction and the game struggled to find its rhythm. Dempsey and Castrogiovanni were the only try scorers, with Ronan O'Gara being the eventual difference between the sides.

Stay tuned for weekly highlight packages and for all the rest of the nitty-gritty from the 2008 RBS Six Nations.

The ref should've done something about the charge but I have noticed Murphy stands up straight a lot when attempting to tackle. He has a really bad technique. Is he like that when playing for the tigers ?

Murphy tackles while standing upright quite alot. think the idea is that he stops the man from offloading in the tackle. which isn't a bad idea but when there's a huge fucker like bergamasco charging at you forearm first, it might be best to go low.

Bergamasco is a legend.Coming from an Ulsterman and Irishman, great to see BOD smashed.Agree the Murphy bit should have probably been a penalty, but didn't Shane Horgan do it to England's David Strettle last year? He wasn't cited.

'Coming from an Ulsterman and Irishman, great to see BOD smashed' - Clearly a unionist mixing rugby with politics. O'Driscoll is the only world-class player on the squad and and real Irishman would support him. Your no Irishman, you don't distinguish between provinces with the national team, go over and live in England, fag. BOD would steamroll you

'no Irishman, you don't distinguish between provinces with the national team, go over and live in England.fag'Some of you southerners are so pathetic (I know not all of you are).I am Scottish and really think you guys should give it a rest as the ulsterman is mearly commenting.

Enjoy the rugby clips and shut up no need to bring politics into it you fag!

Scottish Rob I'm from Belfast so don't give me shite about Republicans. I can comment on what your man said about BOD, and as a so called 'Irishman' i don't think he want to see BOD 'smashed'. Would you like to see a highlander smashed if you were from Edinburgh while playing for Scotland? Chances are you wouldn't...

First tackle was super and legal, O’Driscoll happy to get a breather after that.The seconded warranted action, if Murphy tackled that way he’d be carded at least. But fair play to Murphy up on his feet straight away. As for Shane Horgan doing it last year against Strettle, Horgan gave a chip ahead and Strettle moved in to block Horgan. I think Strettle was in the wrong there.

I know! Hes such an awful captain thats why hes the got the most caps as captain for ireland, hes the top try scorer and has been regarded as irelands best player for the past 7 or 8 years. Theres always one tosser who thinks they can do a better job, and its that guy ^^^^

I think there's a difference between player and captain...... I really like BOD but I don't think he should be captain. POC when he's fit would be better but i suppose there's few other contenders considering EOS's team selection...

to smarter than that guy...and i left the comment above u jackass!BOD yes has been a great player, always plays with passion and is capable of magic. But as a captain he lacks alot and makes bad decisions on the ball but he's never brought up on it as he's captain!Ronaldo is at the minute probably the best footballer in the world....but dear lord he would be the worst captain of all time

Nothing to say, Bergamasco (Mauro) it's a great tackler, in the second one he is wrong (NO ONE IS PERFECT) but Murphy is like a milestone (because he is standig like a fool)che bello, qualche commento in italiano!!!!FORZA ITALIA

In the first Bergamasco does not try to wrap around BOD with his arms, he just touches him and flips him with his shoulder, making it look like he grabbed him. Murphy's tackle isn't over the shoulders and Bergamasco leads with a closed fist and forearm - illegal

Bergamasco is a filthy player leading with the forearm and it was seen again in the welsh match as he gouged a players eyes...

He has the ability to be one of the best back rows around but he needs to focus his talent on becoming a better player and using his talent productively rather than just tryin to bounce players or conceding stupid penalties

bergemasco is an excellent player as demonstrated by his ability to play wing aswell(quite well)-he tackles his heart out for 80 minutes and has an incredible workrate-if he was in a better team he would be recognised alongside george smith and the like as a world class 7. didnt see anything illegal in those clips. The only thing he cant do is play srum half!!!!!!!!!thats the coaches fault though. shouldnt be played there.anyway rant over-gog rugby nut

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ for the comment above me!! Bergamaso lead with the forearm, so if u watched the clip u should have seen something illegal. And another thing he has never shown that he is a world class player!!! He is a dirty scumbag!